The gallant epistle is famous for Paul’s explanations and clarifications about the gospel for those who had been mistaken for false teachers. This gospel is the most sublime manifestation of God’s love (see Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10), it is therefore not surprising that after clarifying the gospel, Paul clarifies what love itself is. Those who know that Christ loved them by carrying the burden of their sin also know that to love is to carry the burden of their brothers and sisters in the church. each other in this way, to fulfill the law of Christ?(cf. Galatians 6. 2). This means that love has a new meaning for Christians.
Love is not a feeling
- It’s easy to misunderstand what love is.
- We feel bad for someone and we already think we love them.
- We sympathize with someone’s situation and consider it love.
- We want to help.
- But we don’t help; then we consoled ourselves by saying.
- “At least I cared.
- “None of this is called love.
- In the biblical sense of the word.
- Love is defined by pact and action.
- Emotion can accompany love.
- But simple emotion is not enough.
- In fact.
- True love persists when emotions fail.
- (Galatians 5.
- 13) and Keep the law of Christ? (cf.
- John 13:34; 15.
- 12) is to relieve the brethren.
How does it feel to take on each other’s burden?(1 John 3:18). When he thinks someone might need to be removed from church, he offers to bring him back. When you want to know how someone is doing, call that person. When you think about how much you’ve had to weigh car repairs in your life. Neighbor’s finances and you can do something to ease the pain, sign a check. When you wonder if anyone else is going to help you, you remember you’re that person. You’re helping. There are countless possible scenarios that call us to take charges from each other. The fact is that love is not content with feelings, it leads to action.
Love marks the church
The local church is eminently a place of love. Paul gives the church family a special priority: “So as long as we have the opportunity, shall we do good to all but especially to those in the family of faith?(Galatians 6. 10). Just as we easily understand what love is, we can easily misunderstand what a community is. A community is not based on preferences, but on the bond of the Spirit. Our standard behavior is to take care of those who look like us and question the needs of those whose business we like. But the Spirit compels us to carry the burdens of others in the church, simply because they are one with us in Christ. We love others in the church as Jesus loved us (John 13:34), we bear the burden of his weaknesses. , sins and impurities. We see these burdens of our brothers and sisters not as impositions in our lives, but as opportunities for our love.
Love is a testament to the world
Carrying the burdens of others is “fulfilling the law of Christ. “This law of Christ is (most likely) Jesus’ commandment: to love one another?(John 13:34). The fulfillment of this law is a testimony: the world will know that we are disciples of Jesus when we observe Him (v. 35). John 4:12 says, “No one has seen God; If we love one another, does God remain in us, and is His perfect love in us?God wants this broken and fragmented world to see the love of his children the burdens of others. The world does not need to look beyond the church family to see an example of God’s love in Christ.
As a pastor in a loving congregation, I have received a lot of love in this way over the years. While I’m writing this text, I’m with my son Jacob at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. This stay is not the first and will not be the first. To be the last, I am convinced that it is based on prayer, that there are meals ready to eat at any time and that transport is available for the rest of the family, that loving spirit has made these medical recognitions an occasion for deeper communion. between our family and the church.
And we’re not the only ones. I have seen our members ease their financial burden with deaconos funds, help families in the event of acute financial or emotional stress, renew living spaces for the sick or disabled, find people to go to church, and perform countless other acts of love. it is love that bears the burden, and it happens all over the world in local congregations. So if you have lots, let them know; If you know someone’s charges, take it with love, because if we love each other, the world will know that we are their disciples.
This article is part of the March 2016 edition of Tabletalk magazine
Translation: Joao Paulo Arag. o da Guia Oliveira. Reviewer: Yago Martins. © 2016 Faithful Ministério. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: take everyone’s load
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